The fact that the Indians had, make that, wanted,Ubaldo Jimenez on the mound to help clinch their American League Wild Card berth Sunday in Minnesota says all anyone needs to know about the turnaround the veteran right-hander made this season.

Jimenez, the butt of countless jokes over last two years underscoring why Cleveland sports never seems to get anything right, took his team’s trust in him and ran with it on the sunny afternoon at Target Field that turned into a perfect back drop for a wild Tribe celebration.

- Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig on Thursday announced that he is set to retire in January 2015, making next season his last at helm of professional baseball. His term of 22 years saw a significant growth in attendance and revenue but is marred by a canceled World Series and the steroids scandals of the past 15 years. Selig, 79, said in a statement that he looks forward to "addressing several significant issues during the remainder of my term." His term would be the second longest in history, behind Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who served from 1920 to 1944.

After waiting a harrowing hour and a half to be rescued from being trapped in a hotel elevator late Thursday night, sitting through a two-hour and 26-minute rain delay before the start of Saturday’s game must have felt like a luxury to Scott Kazmir.

It’s late September, and with the Indians entering Saturday riding an eight-game winning streak and having moved into a first-place tie with Tampa Bay for an American League Wild Card berth with just two regular-season games to go, life is good for Tribe fans.

After Indians fans and sports talking heads across the nation spent the day discussing and debating the Indians combustible closing situation, the Indians offense did its best to quickly put the debate to rest for one night at least.

The Indians keep reeling off wins – despite the efforts once again of embattled closer Chris Perez – holding on Thursday to notch their seventh consecutive victory with a 6-5 win over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

Justin Masterson was all smiles in the Indians locker room before Thursday’s game, happy to discuss his first relief appearnace in over two years.

Thanks to a five-run cushion entering the ninth inning of Wednesday night’s 7-2 victory over the visiting Chicago Cubs, Indians manager Terry Francona was able to get Masterson into the game in a quick, 1-2-3 ninth inning.

When Michael Bourn arrived in the clubhouse late Wednesday afternoon still wearing street clothes while most of his teammates were already dressed in their uniforms and beginning their pre-game activities, it was obvious he wasn’t going to be in the starting lineup against the visiting Chicago White Sox that evening.

10+ X 2 - According to FanGraphs' metrics for Wins Above Replacement, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout now has a WAR of 10.2. He's only the third player to record a WAR of at least 10 in back-to-back seasons, joining Willie Mays and Barry Bonds.

- Entering Sunday's games, all but one division race is just about wrapped up. The Boston Red Sox (94-62) have locked up the American League East and the Los Angeles Dodgers (89-66) have clinched the National League West. After those two, the Detroit Tigers (AL Central, 6-game lead), Oakland Athletics (AL West, 7.5-game lead) and Atlanta Braves (8-game lead) are within a few games (or hours) of solidifying their places as division winners.

CHICAGO: White Sox officals announed that a second wave of showers will hit U.S. Cellular Field about 3 p.m (4 p.m. EDT) and continued for 45 minutes to an hour. They will evaluate but still seem determined to play.

CLEVELAND: Corey Kluber threw a simulated game today and was pronounced fit enough to return to the rotation after recovering from a sprained right middle finger.

However, manager Terry Francona doesn't want to take anyone out of the rotation, so Kluber will ""piggyback'' on the start of Scott Kazmir Friday. Kazmir will pitch the first few innings and Kluber will follow him, much like a spring training game.